Download Lecture Notes AIOU ICT 1431 (Unit # 08 )

Lecture Notes AIOU ICT 1431 (Unit # 08 )
Unit No. 8
Introduction to Multimedia
In today’s advanced and technology adapted society, the concept of multimedia is ever present in
many facets of life. Multimedia can be termed as the “use of several different types of media
(text, audio, graphics, animation, video and interactivity) to convey information.
Multimedia is a combination of text, graphic, sound, animation, and video that is delivered
interactively to the user by electronic or digitally manipulated means.
Components of multimedia
The primary characteristic of a multimedia system is the use of more than one kind of media to
deliver content and functionality. Web and desktop computing programs can both involve
multimedia components. As well as different media items, a multimedia application will
normally involve programming code and enhanced user interaction. Multimedia items generally
fall into one of five main categories and use varied techniques for digital formatting.
Text
Most multimedia systems use a combination of text and other media to deliver functionality.
Text in multimedia systems can express specific information, or it can act as reinforcement for
information contained in other media items.
 A broad term for something that contains words to express something.
 Text is the most basic element of multimedia.
 A good choice of words could help convey the intended message to the users (keywords).
 Used in contents, menus, navigational buttons
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Lecture Notes AIOU ICT 1431 (Unit # 08 )
Example
Images
Graphic / Digital image files appear in many multimedia applications. Digital photographs can
display application content or can alternatively form part of a user interface. Interactive
elements, such as buttons, often use custom images created by the designers and developers
involved in an application.
 Two-dimensional figure or illustration
 Could be produced manually (by drawing, painting, carving, etc.) or by computer
graphics technology.
 Used in multimedia to show more clearly what a particular information is all about
(diagrams, picture).
Example
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Lecture Notes AIOU ICT 1431 (Unit # 08 )
Audio
Audio files and streams play a major role in some multimedia systems. Audio files appear as part
of application content and also to aid interaction. When they appear within Web applications and
sites, audio files sometimes need to be deployed using plug-in media players. Audio formats
include MP3, WMA, Wave, MIDI and RealAudio.
 Produced by vibration, as perceived by the sense of hearing.
 In multimedia, audio could come in the form of speech, sound effects and also music
score.
Example
Video
Digital video appears in many multimedia applications, particularly on the Web. As with audio,
websites can stream digital video to increase the speed and availability of playback. Common
digital video formats include Flash, MPEG, AVI, WMV and QuickTime. Most digital video
requires use of browser plug-ins to play within Web pages, but in many cases the user's browser
will already have the required resources installed.
 Is the technology of capturing, recording, processing, transmitting, and reconstructing
moving pictures?
 Video is more towards photo realistic image sequence / live recording as in comparison
to animation.
 Video also takes a lot of storage space. So plan carefully before you are going to use it.
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Lecture Notes AIOU ICT 1431 (Unit # 08 )
Animation
Animated components are common within both Web and desktop multimedia applications.
Animations can also include interactive effects, allowing users to engage with the animation
action using their mouse and keyboard. The most common tool for creating animations on the
Web is Adobe Flash, which also facilitates desktop applications. Using Flash, developers can
author FLV files, exporting them as SWF movies for deployment to users. Flash also uses Action
Script code to achieve animated and interactive effects.
 The illusion of motion created by the consecutive display of images of static elements.
 In multimedia, animation is used to further enhance / enriched the experience of the user
to further understand the information conveyed to them.
Example
Types of multimedia
Linear Multimedia
 A Multimedia Project is identified as Linear when:
 It is not interactive
 Users have no control over the content that is being showed to them.
 Example:
 A movie
 A non-interactive lecture / demo show
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Lecture Notes AIOU ICT 1431 (Unit # 08 )
Interactive Multimedia
 A Multimedia Project is identified as Non-Linear when:
 It is interactive
 Users have control over the content that is being showed to them.
 Users are given navigational control
 Example:
 Games
 Courseware
 Interactive CD
 The different types of multimedia applications include live performances and
demonstrations of products through the use of multimedia displays, as well as
various applications for multimedia in advertising. Much of this advertising utilizes
computers and is often found on the Internet, in which animations, sounds, and
text are frequently combined to create an interactive or multimedia advertisement
for a particular product or service. The term “multimedia applications” can also
refer to the various programs used to create multimedia works, and these
include animation programs, sound engineering and recording software, and
compositing programs used to combine various raw source files.
 There are many different ways in which multimedia can be utilized in
various applications, though these are often commercial in nature. Such
commercial uses can also be artistic, however, such as live performances of
music or theatrical productions. Musical concerts, for example, can
utilize multimedia presentations, as various visuals are used to accompany the
live music being played, including laser light shows and projected images of
animation or filmed footage on a large screen behind the performers.
Performance artist works are often seen as types of multimedia applications,
especially those that incorporate computers to create images and audio to
accompany their own performances.
Multimedia Application
Multimedia can be used for entertainment, corporate presentations, education,
training, simulations, digital publications, museum exhibits and so much more. With
the advent multimedia authoring applications like Flash, Shockwave and Director
amongst a host of other equally enchanting applications, your multimedia end
product is only limited by your imagination.
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Lecture Notes AIOU ICT 1431 (Unit # 08 )
Multimedia System
 A computer system with the capabilities to capture, digitize, compress , store, decompress
and present information is called multimedia system. The aim of multimedia system is to
provide a creative and effective way of producing, storing and communicating information.
The application areas of multimedia are marketing, training, education, entertainment, etc.
Application of multimedia: a) Multimedia presentation: Multimedia presentation can be used to better explain a
subject matter to the students because it enhances the comprehension capability of
students. It is extremely effective in getting across new ideas and concepts. MS PowerPoint
most popular application used, about 90% presentations are developed in this application.
 b) Entertainment: Multimedia technology is used by entertainment industry as in video
games, films, cartoons, animation, sound effects etc.
 c) Software: Multimedia is used for training purpose or guide. So users can operate software
without help of trainers. Used as learning software’s (foreign languages, some special effects
in the movies) etc.
 d) Business communication: Multimedia is very powerful tool for enhancing the quality of
business communication.
 e) Multimedia web pages: Multimedia feature in web pages make more attractive, user
friendly.
 Multimedia as conferencing: Multimedia feature as video and audio conferencing like viber
and Skype, user friendly.
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Lecture Notes AIOU ICT 1431 (Unit # 08 )
Authoring Tools
Use to merge multimedia elements (text, audio, graphic, animation, and video) into a project.
Designed to manage individual multimedia elements and provide user interaction (if
required).
Example:
 Macromedia Authorware
 Macromedia Director
 Macromedia Flash
 MS Power Point
There are a number of fields where multimedia could be of use. Examples are: Business
 Education
 Entertainment
 Home
 Public Places
Business
 Use and Applications
 Sales / Marketing Presentation
 Trade show production
 Staff Training Application
 Company Kiosk
Education
 Use and Applications
 Courseware / Simulations
 E-Learning / Distance Learning
 Information Searching
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Lecture Notes AIOU ICT 1431 (Unit # 08 )
Entertainment
 Use and Applications
 Games (Leisure / Educational)
 Movies
 Video on Demand
 Online
Home
 Use and Applications
 Television
 Satellite TV
 SMS services (chats, voting, reality TV)
Public Places
 Use and Applications
 Information Kiosk
 Smart Cards, Security
Media center may refer to:
Audio-visual software application or a dedicated media player device for such use
Home theater PC, media computer designed for living-room or Home cinema use
Home cinema, also commonly referred to as a home theater or home media room
Windows Media Center, Microsoft PC software application for Home Theater
MediaPortal Media Center, a free alternative to Windows Media Center
JRiver Media Center, a multimedia application for Windows computers by JRiver
XBMC Media Center, cross-platform software formerly named Xbox Media Center
Portable Media Center
MediaImpact Media Center
Western Digital Media Center
Sally Project (Touchscreen Application Framework) OpenSource software, designed for
touchscreen Windows machines
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